Drop That Extra Weight While Still Dining Out

With each passing year comes the hope of meeting an entirely new set of New Year’s resolutions. One resolution, however, that seems to make the list every year is shedding extra weight. That’s due in part to the holiday season, which seems to be as synonymous with putting on weight as it is with putting up holiday lights.

However, as much as some may like to blame the holidays for the added pounds, it’s also a result of people’s love of dining out. A 2006 Zagat’s survey showed that Americans average eating 3.2 meals out per week. Dining out makes it more difficult to regulate and stick to one’s diet, which can result in weight gain.

So what are lovers of the dining circuit to do? It’s not necessary to abandon dinners outside the home. However, it is wise to consider the following tips, particularly if you’re one of the many who has resolved to lose weight this year. • Order from the appetizers menu. It’s no secret portions are expanding along with the waistlines of many people. These days, entrees are often more than one person can (or at least should) eat. Appetizers often come in smaller portions and can be just as enjoyable as the entree itself. • Lay off fried foods. Fried foods can be a dieter’s worst enemy. Though they taste and often smell good, they’re rarely healthy. Fried chicken, for instance, is not something dieters should consider eating. However, chicken is a great food for the weight conscious. Simply ask for your chicken to be steamed, grilled, baked, broiled; just about anything but fried. • Avoid buffets. Particularly when traveling around the holidays, roadside buffets can seem like the ideal choice, satisfying your hunger before you climb back into the car and finish your trip. However, these buffets are death to a diet, as too many options can lead to overeating. If you must do buffet, seek out the healthiest options, such as vegetables, broiled meat and poultry, and salad. Skip the heavy gravies. • Eat smaller meals, more times per day. Many competitive bodybuilders refer to this approach as “grazing,�? wherein dieters substitute three meals per day with several smaller ones. This helps keep bodybuilders energized throughout the day and can with dieters as well. Also, by eating smaller meals, your stomach will slowly begin to get smaller, which is a good thing for dieters, as they’ll begin to need less and less food to feel satisfied.